Trial in Muncie sisters' deaths reset for 2017

MUNCIE – The trial of a western Indiana man accused of causing the deaths of two Muncie sisters has been postponed until February.

Ethan N. Lee, of Cayuga, last January was indicted by a Vermillion County grand jury on three counts of reckless homicide, a Level 5 felony carrying up to six years in prison, and single counts of criminal recklessness, reckless driving and false informing.

His trial had been set to begin Oct. 17 in Vermillion Circuit Court, but Judge Bruce Stengel last week granted a defense request for a continuance, and reset it for Feb. 20.

Authorities said Lee was driving nearly 90 miles per hour when his pickup truck struck a building in Cayuga, a few miles east of the Illinois border, on Jan. 2, 2015.

Killed in the crash were three passengers in the truck, sisters Annie Clark, 18, and Caroline Clark, 16, both of Muncie, and Braeden Hollowell, 17, of Cayuga.

The sisters were students at Cowan Junior-Senior High School.

The false informing charge alleges Lee – 18 at the time of the crash, but who will be 20 when he stands trial – tried to persuade investigators his truck was traveling at 45 mph when the crash occurred. The speed limit in the area is 25 mph.

The teenager was released from custody after posting a $15,000 bond hours after his indictment.